Brandon Riley went 2-for-3 at the plate Wednesday night at Boshamer Stadium–including a two-run home run in the very first inning–to help lift the 10th-ranked UNC baseball team to an 8-2 victory over the Western Carolina Catamounts.

Riley’s big fly set the tone early on, as the Tar Heels (28-13) tacked on another run in the third inning before essentially sealing it up with a four-run fifth inning that gave them a 7-0 lead.

Western Carolina (4-35) loaded the bases twice over the final four innings, leading to a two-run single in the top half of the sixth frame, but the Tar Heel bullpen was able to escape the jam entirely in the eighth.

The win is the 14th for UNC in its last 17 games, as head coach Mike Fox and company continue to stay red hot.

Up Next:

A huge ACC series awaits the Tar Heels this weekend in Raleigh, when they take on No. 3 NC State in three games from Friday through Sunday. The teams are currently tied atop the overall ACC standings with matching records of 15-6 against conference opponents.

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)

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